The aircraft arrived by commercial cargo ship before being flown to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan, as part of HMM-262. The 12 aircraft will be inspected, and prepared for flight operations to Okinawa at the beginning of August completing the one-to-one CH-46E replacement on Okinawa.

The MV-22 is a highly-capable aircraft with an excellent operational safety record. The aircraft combines the vertical capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft that can fly twice as fast, carry three times as much, and fly four times the distance of the older CH-46E.

Its capabilities will significantly benefit the U.S.-Japan alliance, and strengthen our ability to provide for the defense of Japan and to perform humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.